My Mom was one fantastic lady. She had 6 kids in less than 12 years. She was a clean freak. I never remember the house being messy, let alone dirty. Us kids had small chores...like make our beds every day and keep our bedrooms clean and unload the dishwasher. The majority of everything else she did. We always had home cooked dinners every night. she cooked basic, but, boy wss it good. She always had a cake.. Made from  scratch, for us kids to snack on. Besides just..... and I say "just" lightly, being a good home maker, you could always depend on her for anything, even as adults, she was there, just call.....             She celebrated all the holidays and birthdays for  us kids. Maybe that is why I still go all out and decorate, too,  especially for  Christmas. I am not trying to portray Mom as a saint or something, but she did all of this for all 6 of us, while being married to an alcoholic with his own past child hood issues. You know what, come to think of it, Mom was Saint like. She had to be with my Dad and 6 kids running around. Boy,  do I ever miss that lady!!